Seo-myeon (Korean: 서면; Hanja: 西面; lit. west side) is a major commercial center and transportation hub in Bujeon-dong, Busanjin District, Busan, South Korea.[1]
Seo-myeon
서면 | |
|---|---|
Neighborhood | |
 The nightscape of Seo-myeon (2015) | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 35°09′25″N 129°03′32″E / 35.157°N 129.059°E | |
| Country | South Korea |
| City | Busan |
| District | Busanjin District |
The area grew from a small village in the Joseon period to a major industrial hub in the mid-20th century. It hosted numerous factories and businesses, including predecessors to the modern companies Samsung and LG. By the late 20th century, many of the factories moved away, and the area became the preeminent shopping and culture area of the city.
Name
editThe official administrative name for this area is not "Seo-myeon"; it is actually "Bujeon-dong".[2] "Seo-myeon" was the name of an old settlement in the area that has remained in use.[2]
Transportation
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Seo-myeon is a transportation hub for public transportation in Busan. Seo-myeon Station is near the Seo-myeon road junction and is one of the busiest subway stations in Korea; it is the transfer station between Busan Subway Line 1 and Line 2. Bujeon Station near Bujeon Market is a train station on the Donghae Nambu Line and Bujeon Line.[3]
A bus transfer center also lies in front of the Busan main store of the Lotte Department Store.[citation needed]
History
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The area was once a village to the west of the fortress Dongnaeeupseong. During the 1910–1945 Japanese colonial period, a tram was built from Yeongdo through the Dongnae Hot Springs area, which passed through Seo-myeon. After the 1945 liberation of Korea, factories were built around the area. In the 1950s, a number of factories were built in the area, including Cheil Jedang (a predecessor to the modern Samsung) and Lakhee Chemical (a predecessor to the modern LG).[1]
The area's iconic 5-way intersection was built in 1957. Busan Tower was built in 1963. Trams passed under the tower until the tram closed in 1968. Industry in the area continued to flourish; this was due to the area's access to rail and proximity to the port of Busan. The area became especially busy in the 1970s, as workers commuted in large numbers to the area. It also became popular as an area for culture, and had theaters and shopping streets. It attracted both local workers and college students.[1]
Beginning in the 1980s, factories were gradually moved to the outskirts of the city. The opening of shopping malls in the area during this decade cemented the area's status as a commercial hub. Banks and finance companies opened in the area, and government offices were located nearby. Hagwons increased in density in the 1990s.[1]
Symbology
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The district flag of Busanjin-gu symbolizes the 5-way intersection of Seo-myeon. It represents the center of Busan as a hub of globalization, finance, commerce, distribution, and information. The district tree is the gingko,[4] which can be seen throughout the area and is said to symbolize stability due to the resistant nature that protects it against disease and insects. The district flower is the chrysanthemum,[4] another plant known to endure harsh conditions. The district bird is the magpie, known for building nests in the branches of very high trees.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b c d 김, 은숙. "서면(西面) - 부산역사문화대전". Encyclopedia of Korean Local Culture. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
- ^ a b "Introduction > Present condition of district > Origination of name | Busan Jin-gu office ; 소개 > 구정현황 > 지명유래 | 부산 진구청". www.busanjin.go.kr. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
- ^ An 안, Taeki 태기; Ahn 안, Chihyung 치형; Lee 이, Youngseok 영석; Nam 남, Myungwoo 명우 (31 July 2016). "A Study on Efficient Access Point Installation Based on Fixed Radio Wave Radius for WSN Configuration at Subway Station; 지하철 역사 내 WSN 환경구축을 위한 고정 전파 범위 기반의 효율적인 AP설치에 관한 연구". Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial Cooperation Society 한국산학기술학회논문지 (in Korean). 17 (7). The Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society 한국산학기술학회: 740–748. doi:10.5762/KAIS.2016.17.7.740. eISSN 2288-4688. ISSN 1975-4701. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
- ^ a b c "Introduction > Present condition of district > Symbols | Busan Jin-gu office ; 소개 > 구정현황 > 상징물 | 부산 진구청". www.busanjin.go.kr. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
External links
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Media related to Seomyeon, Busan at Wikimedia Commons